There are a few things that make you as giddy and gleeful as watching the perfect con come together. The meticulous planning, the complex schemes, the seamless execution, and finally, the bewildered face of the person conned.
Ever wondered how the term ‘conman’ came into existence? In 1849, William Thompson, one of American history’s earliest scammers, was arrested in New York City for convincing innocent passers-by to lend him their valuables and vanishing with them. Local authorities started calling him “the confidence man,” which was shortened to “con man.” The perfect con is beyond just smash and grab. The con artist doesn’t barge in and snatch things, but manipulates you into willingly giving them what they want. The conman understands your needs and creates a comfort zone around you, building the perfect moment to walk away with what they came for all along. Confidence aside, they are also extremely clever, focused, suave and persuasive. They have backup plans of backup plans and know how to vanish into thin air when things get messy.
From the notorious conman who invented the Ponzi scheme to the one who sold the Eiffel Tower, names like Charles Ponzi and Victor Lustig will never be forgotten. There’s also our very own Natwarlal, the man who sold the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Parliament House of India! Although their work is highly detrimental to society, it has left behind a unique legacy which has inspired some popular movies and books.
MX Player’s new web series is all set to deep dive into the art of conning, chronicling the journey of the deceptive yet honourable Matsya Thada, played by Ravii Dubey. With a legacy of having pulled of some of the biggest cons across the country, he always slips past the authorities, easily moving from one job to another. But Matsya’s life takes a sharp turn, when ACP Tejraj Singh, a ruthless and determined cop played by Ravi Kishan, is handed his case. Singh will stop at nothing to apprehend Matsya, especially by using his biggest strengths- the ability to think like his targets and a glaring fearlessness to justify the means to the end. What ensues is a thrilling chase between the two, with Matsya challenging Singh to catch him if he can.
Take a look at the trailer below:
Spanning Delhi, Meerut, Sambhar and Jaipur, Matsya Kaand is the first thriller-con web series in the Indian OTT space. This 11-episode series breaks down the anatomy of a perfect con- confidence, planning, presence of mind, risk and patience. Dubey’s character will be seen donning 11 unrecognisable disguises with glamour, wit, comedy and poise.
Speaking about the same, Ravii Dubey said, “A master of disguise, a charmer, and a smooth talker with a sharp brain – the journey of playing the genius conman Matsya has been exhilarating. This one show had me essay so many layered roles and truly challenged me as an actor, making me test my own versatility.”
Ravi Kishan added, “Matsya Kaand is different, it’s intelligent, its twists and turns will keep you at the edge of your seat and it’s the kind of series that will keep surprising you.”
Directed by Ajay Bhuyan, the series also stars Piyush Mishra, Zoya Afroz, Madhur Mittal, Rajesh Sharma and Naved Aslam amongst others in key roles.
Stream all episodes of Matsya Kaand starting 18th November, for free on MX Player. Click here to download the app.
This is a partnered post with MX Player.